Satellite and model studies of galactic cosmic rays and clouds, modulated by solar activity

• Antragsteller: Dr. Cornelius Schiller (†)
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Physik und Chemie der Atmosphäre
• Förderung: Förderung von 2005 bis 2009
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 5453538

The objective of the proposed project is to investigate the impact of solar activity modulated galactic cosmic rays (GCR) on clouds, which are a key parameter of the Earths weather and climate system. The current knowledge about the GCR-cloud link is controversial. In the first period of this project, we propose to focus on satellite observations of cirrus clouds, both in the long-term data record of the SAGE-2 satellite experiment as well as for episodes of solar proton events and the subsequent Forbush decrease using data of the MIPAS instrument onboard ENVISAT. The satellite data have to be analyzed for cloud and aerosol data to derive climatologies, and the superimposed variability by other processes have to be eliminated. We will develop appropriate nucleation parameterizations to be implemented in a chemical transport model for theoretical studies of the GCR-cloud link.

• DFG-Verfahren: Schwerpunktprogramme
• Teilprojekt zu: SPP 1176: Klima und Wetter des Systems Sonne/Erde
• Beteiligte Personen: Dr. Gebhard Günther; Dr. Martina Krämer; Reinhold Spang, Ph.D.